2nd place in Ceremony

East Lothian, United Kingdom

Wedding photographer Simon Grosset, was awarded 2nd place in the Ceremony category for the WPJA's 2010 Q3.

Judges

Wow, a black cat at a wedding? Has to be one of the more interesting moments I’ve seen at a wedding and it’s perfectly framed in the center so the cat is silhouetted with the bride’s white dress behind it. Love the element of the groom’s expression as he looks back. The flowers to the right and left nicely frame the photo.

An image like this might not have as much meaning to some cultures, but for many, a black cat crossing your path is considered a sign of bad luck. This image was a tough contender for first place. I've judged photos at some of photojournalism's top contests - including this one and I've never seen a more forebodingly funny image from a wedding. Let's face it, getting married is scary enough, but when a black cat strolls past the frame, one has to wonder what comes next. The groom gives the cat a rather smirking smile. I know what he's thinking.. "Blame it all on the cat." At least in this case, the black cat brought better fortune to the photographer who captured a fun moment with excellent lighting and composition.